Obama orders flag flown at half-staff in honor of Sen. Specter

Specter died Sunday. In response, Obama quickly released a statement recognizing the senator's time in office.

"Arlen Specter was always a fighter," Obama said of the senator, who over his tenure in Congress caucused with both Democrats and Republicans. "He brought that same toughness and determination to his personal struggles, using his own story to inspire others."

Specter died of non-Hodgkin lymphoma Sunday morning at age 82. He served on Capitol Hill for 30 years.